B Sharp Musical Club Celebrates Local Talent and Announces 2026 Scholarship Winners
The B Sharp Musical Club brought local musicians and supporters together Monday, July 6, for an evening of live music and recognition at Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Utica.
The performance, held inside the historic church at 6 Elizabeth St., featured classical, theatrical and jazz-influenced selections performed by accomplished musicians from across Central New York. The evening also included the announcement and recognition of recipients of three B Sharp scholarship and grant programs.
Local Musicians Take the Stage
The concert showcased a wide range of instruments and musical styles, demonstrating the depth of talent within the Greater Utica area.
Pianists John Krause, Peter Costianes, Avery Ellerbruch, Mary Coburn, Colleen Pellman and Tina Toglia were among the featured keyboard performers. Mary Holzhauer performed on organ.
The instrumental lineup also included Claire Wilcox on violin, Joanna Robertson on cello, Ethan Coburn on double bass, Sam Robertson on drums and Anne Contino on clarinet.
Holly McCormack, a soprano, provided the featured vocal performance.
The program included music by Franz Schubert, Amy Beach, Jehan Alain, Claude Bolling and the late Hamilton College composer Sam Pellman. Selections ranged from Schubert’s chamber work “The Shepherd on the Rock” to Bolling’s jazz-influenced suite for cello and piano.
Brian Chang Receives McGinty Piano Scholarship
One of the evening’s central moments was the announcement of Brian Chang as the recipient of the 2026 Mary and Sheila McGinty Piano Scholarship.
The scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school senior who excels at piano and plans to continue studying piano performance, music education, music therapy or another related musical field.
Eligible students must be from Oneida, Herkimer or Madison counties, although they may attend college elsewhere.
Chang also placed second in piano during B Sharp’s 2026 annual scholarship competition. The organization’s official results list Ethan Lin in first place, Chang in second place, Charlotte Gale in third place and Julia Peck as honorable mention.
Pecci Scholarships Support College Music Students
The 2026 Robert B. Pecci Scholarships were awarded to Jillian Powles and Annalysse Guenthner.
Powles, of New Hartford, attends the Hartt School at the University of Hartford, where she is pursuing a double major in flute performance and music education.
Guenthner, of Dolgeville, attends SUNY Fredonia as a music education major with a concentration in clarinet.
B Sharp awards two Pecci scholarships to area students pursuing college degrees in fields such as music performance, education, composition, theory, history or music therapy.
Three Students Receive Vera Brindisi Grants
The 2026 Vera Brindisi Grants for Advanced Study in Piano and Voice were awarded to Elizabeth Shaver, Jonathan Burgdorf and Marlee Winfield.
Shaver will attend SUNY Fredonia as a voice and music education major.
Burgdorf has completed his freshman year at SUNY Potsdam, where he is studying piano performance.
Winfield will attend SUNY Geneseo as a vocal performance major with a minor in music education.
The Vera Brindisi Grant is awarded through the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. It helps local musicians pursue advanced piano or vocal study outside the Mohawk Valley. Funds may be used for tuition, travel or participation in summer music programs.
More Than a Century of Music in Utica
Founded in 1903, the B Sharp Musical Club has supported music and musicians in the Greater Utica area for more than 120 years.
The organization presents free concerts, mentors students through Junior B Sharp, brings musical programs to senior communities and provides scholarships to young musicians. B Sharp says it currently distributes approximately $10,000 in scholarships each year.
Its scholarship tradition dates to the 1940s, with endowed awards established during the following decade. The annual competition is open primarily to young musicians from Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties and is judged by music professionals from colleges and universities across New York state.
Through performances such as the July 6 concert and continued investment in emerging musicians, the B Sharp Musical Club is helping preserve Utica’s musical traditions while creating opportunities for a new generation of artists.
More information about concerts, scholarships and membership is available through the B Sharp Musical Club’s official website.
